VU star Alvarez out at least six weeks

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 8:46am

Vanderbilt junior All-America third baseman Pedro Alvarez will miss at least six weeks of action after suffering a broken bone in his hand during last Friday's season opener, the school announced Wednesday.

Alvarez, a national Player of the Year candidate, is regarded as Vanderbilt's best offensive player.

“This is an unfortunate situation for Pedro,” VU coach Tim Corbin said. “Obviously we will miss having him in the lineup and in the field. He is a special player that can’t be replaced. This is the kind of injury you don’t rush back from and we hope to have him back at full strength later in the season.”

Alvarez suffered the injury in his first at-bat against Oregon State in a tournament in Tempe, Ariz., last Friday and then missed the next two games.

The New York City native is considered the nation's top junior professional prospect by Baseball America and is on the initial Golden Spikes and Brooks Wallace Award watch lists, presented annually to the nation's best player.

The third-ranked Commodores, 2-1, play their home opener today at 4 p.m. against Evansville.